MOCK DRAFT 1.0

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS:

WAY TOO EARLY NBA MOCK DRAFT:

Right now we're going to use the current standings and assume all draft picks get executed. This will create the framework for future drafts.

1. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: Team Needs: Reliable PF, Bench Depth, Pure Shooters

    PREDICTION: Cade Cunningham - The pick doesn't make sense, but I think they draft the most talented player on the board and figure it out later. Cunningham had a somewhat disappointing tournament by his standards, but his size, length, playmaking, and scoring is everything this team needs and more. Trying to fit Evan Mobley into the 4 seems like a disaster waiting to happen, and there will likely be consolidation with some of their young wings over the summer to fill the holes in this team's offense. They are going this route, as it has so far worked well with the Cavs and Kings, both of which appear to have their backcourt of the future. Cade can play both guard spots, so when the inevitable D-Lo injury occurs, hopefully they won't miss a beat going forward.

2. HOUSTON ROCKETS: Team Needs: Swingmen, PF, Overall Talent

    PREDICTION: Jalen Suggs - With his tournament play and the inability to rely on John Wall long-term, Suggs is a great fit. He gives them a star player that will be able to draw in talent later on. He's the prototype build for a modern point, can play on or off the ball, can defend, and can obviously make clutch shots. He has some maturing to do as far as fouling and outside shooting, but he's an early candidate for Rookie of the Year if he lands on the rockets. Pretty much anyone in he top 5 in this draft would likely be a starter for this decrepit Rockets team, but Suggs seems like the safest pick for them long-term.

3. DETROIT PISTONS: Team Needs: Center, Shooting Guard, Bench, Overall Talent

    PREDICTION: Evan Mobley - Detroit really dropped the ball by not re-signing Christian Wood, but they might see redemption with Evan Mobley. Killian Hayes and Mobley will be running the pick-and-roll quite a bit and he, along with Suggs, could be fighting for that coveted Rookie of the Year title. Mobley is a more traditional big, but his elite defense, offensive upside, and mature game should make him be a good fit in the NBA. 3-ball is not in his arsenal yet, but we've seen bigs develop over time. He won't see significant competition for minutes at the center and his poor tournament play could mean to him being brought on slowly. Regardless of how the Pistons handle his situation, they will likely not be a very winning team, leaving him to get a fair share of minutes and use his energy to make some entertaining plays.

4. ORLANDO MAGIC: Team Needs: SG, Forward Depth, Bench Depth

    PREDICTION: Jalen Green - They need a spark plug and a shooting swingman. Green is a slithery, bouncy guard that has shown a lot of success in the G-League. He's an elite-level scorer, above average shooter that continues to improve, and has prototype attributes for a 2-guard. Orlando traded away Fournier, which implies they are looking to fill that need either in the draft or free agency. They like Ross coming off the bench, so he should see a solid amount of minutes. With Isaac back and Chuma Okeke playing very well in expanded minutes, I think they feel comfortable with their 3 frontcourt positions and will be looking to bolster their backcourt.

5. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: Team Needs: Defenders, PF, Shooting

    PREDICTION: Jalen Johnson - There is still a lot of talent at the top part of this draft, but for a team like Cleveland that has a locked in backcourt, their center of the future, and went top-5 with a wing last year, I see Jalen Johnson as the best fit for this team. Larry Nance Jr and Johnson have a lot of overlap, yet I think he is a long-term project if anything. He was in and out of the starting line-up at Duke, but his per-minute defensive production, his ability to play both forward positions, and his per-minute offensive scoring make him an intriguing prospect. Jonathan Kuminga could be in play, but his G-League success has been much less successful than Jalen Green. Scottie Barnes could also be linked to Cleveland, due to his passing for his position, his defense, and his high ceiling. Cleveland is a couple of guys away from being really good, so whoever they pick here will still make them a fringe playoff team at best in the East.

6. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: Team Needs: Wings!

    PREDICTION: Jonathan Kuminga - With their long list of draft picks they have available to them, I think they just select the best available. They've already locked in Moses Brown long-term, Theo Maledon and SGA seem to be their backcourt of the future, so anybody else at this point would be complimentary pieces. Roby is not fully locked in, but probably going to be their starting PF for the foreseeable future, so that leaves them shallow at the wing position. They have a lot of good players, but I don't think they're just collecting prospects until they consolidate. Kuminga has already played with professionals, so he might be ahead of the game as far as development. He has good size and passing for a wing and we've seen people with bad shots improve over time. Kuminga is has effort and athleticism, so that along with his size will make him a lottery pick nonetheless.

7. WASHINGTON WIZARDS: Team Needs: Healthy Centers, Back-Up Point Guard, More Shooting

    PREDICTION: Alperen Sengun - While I think the Wizards really like Thomas Bryant, he wasn't a great defender. He's coming off a major injury and the 6-10 Turkish Center has incredible upside. They have a plethora of high-ceiling forwards - Rui, Bertans, Deni, Hutchison - I see them going with someone that can utilize as a long-term piece. They will likely be with Westbrook for two more years, and Beal for at least one more. Barring a complete tear down, I think they will either go Sengun or whoever they feel is "best available". The Wizards on paper should be a playoff team, so I think they'll be looking to fill needs more than what the consensus best player available is at their pick.

8. TORONTO RAPTORS: Team Needs: Everything but PF, Bench Help, Additional Shooters

    PREDICTION: Isaiah Jackson - Honestly, this team is too good to be missing the playoffs. I think they bring by Lowry for at least another year, I think they eventually move Boucher into the starting center spot full time, and I think think they add complimentary pieces. Jackson might be a reach, but for a team that is dead last in rebounding, his production should come in handy. Both Baynes and Boucher have non-guaranteed contracts next year, so there's a good chance they shake up this position. He definitely has limitations on his game, yet gives me Clint Capela vibes and could be a solid defender in a league full of talented centers.

9. SACRAMENTO KINGS: Team Needs: Reliable Bigs, Defense

    PREDICITON: Scottie Barnes - He can play multiple positions, he has the size and length to grow into an elite defender, but is somewhat of a project. The Florida State forward has plenty of upside and he's an excellent passer for his position. On a team that doesn't really have a dominant playmaker, he could be a solid option to play wing if the team decides to move on from Barnes - having Barnes play a sort of Draymond Green-esque role. His outside shooting and turnovers leave much to be desired, but he fills several needs this team has.

10. ORLANDO MAGIC: Team Needs: Forward Depth, Bench Depth

    PREDICTION: Corey Kispert - He's my high riser in the draft, as it's very possible he could go as high as top-5. His advanced age, however, might give him the Obi Toppin treatment. He is a shooter plain and simple, and him coming off the bench with Terrance Ross could be very formidable. With Vucevic gone, Wendell and Bamba will be in open competition until the end of the year, and I don't think there is another guard good enough at this point to draft over Kispert. The Gonzaga shooter is averaging almost 45% from beyond the arc and his near 88% free throw shooting implies that his shot will continue to get better and translate to the NBA. His defense could be what prevents him from a starting line-up, but he gives me Kyle Korver/Joe Harris vibes.

11. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: Team Needs: Reliable Bigs, 3-and-D Wings

    PREDICTION: Moses Moody - Honestly, it's a crapshoot whether or not they would go with Moody or Kispert here. Moody can be inconsistent at times, but when he's on his game, he's incredibly dangerous. His wingspan is over 7 feet, and his 6-6 frame for a guard is among the best. He may not necessarily be a top-10 prospect, yet he would be an excellent fit for a team that could use some reliable wing depth off the bench and sees Nickeil as more of a back-up point guard. With Lonzo Ball on an expiring deal and them drafting Kira Lewis in the first round last year, they are in dangerous territory of having too many guys at this point.

12. INDIANA PACERS: Team Needs: Honestly, just to be healthy

    PREDICTION: Keon Johnson - Their team was off to a lightning hot start, and then between Warren getting hurt, COVID, and just an overall improvement in the East, things didn't work in their favor. The types of players the Pacers select fall in line with Keon's skill set. He's an unselfish, 3-and-D type player that has several developing aspects to his game. I think having elite passers like Brogdon and McConnell will help improve his shooting and his defense is among the best at his position. With the Pacers having just about their entire roster locked up long-term, they can be patient with his development.

13. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS: Team Needs: Bench Depth

    PREDICTION: Franz Wagner - They have a lot of options here - Bougknight, Ziarie Williams, Davion Mitchell, etc - but I think Wagner fits their team the best. At least of the time being they are somewhat "stuck" with Wiggins, yet I think Wagner can play that role much better. A competent passer and defender, Franz does more than just shoot the ball. He's a solid sized wing, has a respectable 34% 3-point shot, and does not cause a lot of turnovers. For a team that will likely have high expectations right away next year with Klay Thompson hopefully returning healthy, they will need players like Wagner to step up when it matters.

14. SAN ANTONIO SPURS: Team Needs: Forwards, Center Depth, Wings

    PREDICTION: Day'Ron Sharpe - With Aldridge gone, Gay and DeRozan expiring, they need some forwards. Sharpe is an imposing big that is a rebounding machine. It's more likely than not Sharpe will be utilized as the back-up center, but he can be impactful in limited minutes. He's more of a traditional big, so his role will likely be clearly identified, but with them already pretty crowded in the backcourt, I don't know if they go that route.

15. NEW YORK KNICKS: Team Needs: Primary Ball Handler, Center Depth

    PREDICTION: Davion Mitchell - Their backcourt situation cleans up a bit next year with Rose and Payton on expiring deals. While I'm bullish on Quickley, I think he fits in more as a 2 - in that Donovan Mitchell type role. Davion Mitchell would need to fill more of that Mike Conley type role, with his lock down defense, competent passing, and elite outside shooting. His tournament play very well could elevate him into the lottery as we move closer to the draft, yet I think his advanced age is a benefit on a team that seems to have a hard time getting veteran free agents.

16. CHARLOTTE HORNETS: Team Needs: Centers

    PREDICTION: Kai Jones - The best thing that can happen for this team is them just all being healthy going into next year. With Cody Zeller on an expiring deal, they need a backup plan to resolve their center needs. PJ Washington is the small ball center, yet they need to have a center on their roster for certain match-ups. Kai Jones could be that guy. His stat sheet doesn't blow you away, but he's got a solid frame, can hit the 3-ball if necessary, and is a pesky defender. He is more of a project, yet their team has a fast pace and he could fit well in their system.

17. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER: Team Needs: Best Available

    PREDICTION: James Bouknight - The Thunder have their fair share of guards at this point, yet Bouknight is an explosive prospect that could be an offensive sparkplug off their bench. His shot needs work, but he can score at all three levels, is an above average rebounder for his size, and a solid defender. He was somewhat inconsistent, but showed some strong promise against several top teams and played a ton of college minutes for scouts to review. For a team like OKC, they need to just draft for player upside at this point and hope they get the right pieces to go all-in when they hit a plateau.

18. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES - Team Needs: Wings, Shooting

    PREDICTION: Jared Butler - The Baylor product does not serve their wing needs, yet his elite shooting is a great fit to help one of their bigger weaknesses. They have solid defense and while they're in the middle of the pack as far as scoring, their outside shooting could use improvement. Tyus Jones is a solid playmaker, but his offense has not made much of an impact, and he could be seen as a better fit next to De'Anthony Melton off the bench. Grayson Allen has been playing better of late, so they could see him as the band-aid they need to get by at wing, while they improve their bench.

19. BOSTON CELTICS - Team Needs: Centers

    PREDICTION: Neemias Queta - The Portuguese center from Utah State is an absolute monster. While his skill sets overlaps quite a bit with Robert Williams III, he has an obvious size advantage and he really started peaking toward the end of the season. He led Utah State into a playoff berth, yet despite a monster 11-point, 13-rebound, 6-assist, 7-block game was not enough to get past Texas Tech. He has NBA-size, is a competent passer, and is an elite defender. He does appear to move somewhat slowly in the paint, yet he does have the strength to bully around smaller centers.

20. ATLANTA HAWKS - Team Needs: Back-Up Point Guard

    PREDICTION: Josh Giddey - The Aussie prospect is an intriguing option. Lou Williams is getting close to 35 and is on an expiring contract. The Hawks need a solid back-up point guard that has the ability to guard multiple positions. Giddey is far from a lock down shooter, but he has nice touch around the right, excellent court vision, and is a competent rebounder. He needs work on his off-the-ball skills and efficiency, yet with Trae Young locked in as their starting point guard, he'll have room to grow. At 6' 8", he is has elite size for his position and could be poised to grow into a larger role over time.

21. NEW YORK KNICKS - Team Needs: Center Depth

    PREDICTION: Filip Petrušev - They will likely continue to deploy Mitchell Robinson as their starting center for defensive reasons, yet Petrusev is the scoring bench center they could really use. Noel is a solid backup, but is not much of a scorer and is terribly inconsistent. Petrusev is a veteran international prospect that scores in bunches, is a lock-down outside shooter, and could grow into a being an okay defender. He cuts well into the pick and roll, and moves well in the paint. He seems to finish well once he catches in motion, yet his lack of elite rebounding and defense might have him stay on the bench for the foreseeable future.

22. HOUSTON ROCKETS - Team Needs: Swingmen, PF, Overall Talent

    PREDICTION: Usman Garuba - While he stats won't blow you away, it's rare a 19 year old is starting in the Spanish League. He should bring a professionalism to this young team, along with a 6'8" frame and NBA size. He has some work to do as a scorer, but could be a solid defender on a team that is literally starting Kelly Olynyk at the 4. The Rockets have limited roster moves available to them this summer with John Wall's contract taking up a solid portion of their cap space. Garuba is likely going to get drafted higher due to his age and upside, but the Rockets would be thrilled to get Garuba at 22.

23. LOS ANGELES LAKERS - Team Needs: Bench Depth, Guard Help

    PREDICTION: Jaden Springer - He's a perfect fit type of guard on a LeBron James team. He's not an elite playmaker, but plays well on and off the ball, can knock down his 3's consistently, plays gritty defense, and is a consistent free throw shooter. With Schroder looking to get paid this off-season, he could be an under-the-radar add for this team. He has Lottery upside, so it'll be interesting to see if he's still on the board when the Lakers select.

24. HOUSTON ROCKETS - Team Needs: Swingmen, Overall Talent

    PREDICTION: Ziaire Williams - He reminds me a lot of Cam Reddish. He's a guy busting with talent, but did not seem to put it all together. The freshman forward was a top high school prospect, yet his play at Stanford was incredibly inconsistent. He's an okay defender and can create space. His passing is subpar, his shooting is inaccurate, but I think the Rockets would be a solid place for him to land as most of the team will be competing for minutes and they will likely be a developmental team next year as well. Williams is a still a raw prospect but has NBA size and has a desire to compete.

25. DENVER NUGGETS - Team Needs: Point Guard

    PREDICTION: Ayo Dosunmu - With the Nuggets losing Jamal Murray for probably all of next year, I think they go with a point guard. Dosunmu is an older player has a similar skillset to Murray. He plays well on and off the ball, is an efficient shooter, solid rebounder, and above average playmaker. His draft age will likely cause him to slide in the draft, yet with all of the elite point guards likely to get drafted much earlier, he seems to be a good fit. Morris and Campazzo will likely get the first crack at starting, yet with them trading RJ Hampton and Gary Harris, they find themselves once against on guards.

26. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS - Team Needs: Upgrade at PG, Bigs

    PREDICTION: Sharife Cooper - He may be undersized and inefficient, yet he's a phenomenal passer. His 83% free throw shooter places him as a better than his numbers suggest. He's a twitchy guard that garners a lot of attention, leaving players open. His decision making is a work in progress, yet he could benefit from Kawhi and PG13 taking up so much defensive attention. Cooper was one of the best high school players in the country when selected by Auburn and he seems more likely to enter the draft than to return to Auburn.

27. BROOKLYN NETS - Team Needs: Bench Depth

    PREDICTION: Bennedict Mathurin - Mathurin could easily slide up higher in this draft. He's got elite size for his position, is an excellent shooter and will barely be 19 on draft day. His role was somewhat small at Arizona, yet he's an excellent prospect for a team that desperately needs depth. Brooklyn won't have many picks for the foreseeable future, so they'll want to make sure they get someone that can grow with the team and hopefully be a major contributor down the line.

28. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS - Team Needs: Shooters

    PREDICTION: Tre Mann - The sharpshooting point guard from Florida has the combination of accuracy, defense, and size that the Sixers will find appealing. He shot over 40% from beyond the arc, almost a steal and a half a game, and had several big moments in the tournament. His size allows him to guard multiple positions and could play a major bench role for this Sixers team. Recency bias from the tournament might cause him to move up in the draft, yet he would be a great selection for this Championship-caliber team.

29. PHOENIX SUNS - Team Needs: Back-Up Wings, Forward Depth

    PREDICTION: Chris Duarte - This 3-and-D wing is the perfect fit for this team. His combination of efficiency, size, defensive acumen, and experience should allow him to be an immediate contributor for this team. When you have a guy like Chris Paul dishing you the rock, you can expect them to drop easily. Duarte's age allows him to slide in the draft, yet he could move up depending on if teams see value in his skillset. There are very few weaknesses to his game and he played well in the tournament.

30. UTAH JAZZ - Team Needs: Bench Depth

    PREDICTION: Daishen Nix - The G-League guard might not be the sexiest pick, but he's a 6' 5" point guard that rebounds well, plays a tough brand of defense, and is a solid playmaker. His shot selection needs some work, but there might be some value in having that G-League experience. Mike Conley is on an expiring contract, yet will likely be brought back on a team friendly deal. Their team is structured well for a Championship run, but they will need to continue to add pieces with guys like Ingles starting to show signs of age.

- Adam Safianow - NBA Analyst - Upsyde Sports [Copyright 2021]